The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) on Friday announced that it has barred its former president, Katho P Awomi, from all organisational programmes and official engagements until the ongoing police investigation into the recent Prysm Lounge incident is concluded.
The decision comes in the wake of a case registered against Awomi, who is currently serving as Finance Secretary of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), following the widely circulated CCTV footage of an alleged vandalism incident at Prysm Lounge in Dimapur.
In a statement, the ANCSU said it had taken serious note of media reports concerning the incident and the criminal case currently under investigation by law enforcement authorities.
Condemning the alleged incident, the union acknowledged that the reports had adversely affected the image, credibility and legacy of the organisation, noting that Awomi had once occupied a position of trust and responsibility as its president.
“To safeguard the reputation and institutional integrity of the ANCSU, it has been decided that Katho P. Awomi shall not be invited to, associated with or engaged in any programme, activity or official function of the Union until the matter is conclusively resolved through due process of law,” the statement said.
The union clarified that the decision was taken solely to protect the credibility of the organisation and to maintain public confidence in its leadership while allowing the legal process to take its course.
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The ANCSU also reiterated that it remains committed to ethical leadership, accountability and the rule of law, adding that its position should not be interpreted as being directed against any individual or organisation but as an effort to uphold the integrity of the student body.
Besides distancing itself from its former president, the union renewed its demand for strict enforcement of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act.
Reiterating its long-standing opposition to bars, restaurants and nightclubs allegedly operating in violation of the prohibition law, the ANCSU urged the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, and other enforcement agencies to immediately identify and shut down establishments found to be selling or facilitating the consumption of alcohol in contravention of the Act.
The union further warned that failure by the authorities to take decisive action against violators would compel it to launch democratic forms of protest to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law.
The ANCSU maintained that the recent controversy should not distract from what it described as the larger issue of effective implementation of the NLTP Act, urging the authorities to enforce the law uniformly and without exception.
